On December 19, 2020, we wish to remember our veterans, honor their service and teach our children about them. To date, Wreaths Across America Dade County has identified almost 275 veterans from Dade County and northeast Alabama. It Is our sincere wish to lay a wreath on the gravesite of each of these deserving veterans. Thank you to all who have contributed. To date, we have received sponsorships and donations that will cover approximately 120 gravesites.
In a previous article, I referred to Donald "Leland" Wallace. His daughter, Faith Watkins, contacted me to say his name is Donald “Leete” Wallace, but better than that she commented on the article on the Dade County Historical Society of Trenton, Georgia Facebook page with a really amazing story of his life.
Mr. Wallace served in the Merchant Marine during World War II and the Army in Korea and Vietnam. Please follow our Facebook page where you can read Faith’s comments about Donald Leete Wallace who earned his GED, learned Mandarin Chinese, and was one of the first Green Beret graduates at Fort. Benning.
This year’s Wreaths Across America slogan is “Be An American Worth Fighting For.” Here are a few other area veterans who thought we were:
Densmore Coleman – Civil War – died 3/27/1864
Robert B Paris – World War I – Army- died 6/6/1963
Ernest Smith – World War I – Army – died 2/11/1968
Lother Clifford Spears – World War I – Marines – died 7/22/1950
George Jackson Monday – World War II – Army – died 10/3/2001
Vernard “ Doc” Earl Hixson – World War II & Korea – Navy – died 3/21/2020
Maurice Talmadge Light – Korea – Air Force – died 6/8/2013
Edward Wayne Anderson – Korea & Vietnam – Air Force – died 3/28/2019
Joe Lee Tatum Jr – Vietnam – Marines – died 1/28/2013
Marion Odell Lowery – Vietnam – Army – died 12/3/2005
Floyd Fremon Crane – Vietnam & Persian Gulf – Air Force – died 1/9/2018
Craig Alexander Scott – Persian Gulf – Army – 9/25/2018
Kimberly Renee Castleberry – Persian Gulf – Army – died 6/30/2010
Please help us Remember and Honor all these men and women by sponsoring a wreath for $15, three wreaths for $30 or $10 each for any number of wreaths over three. Please make checks payable to WAA Dade County and send to Gail Hedden, 2267 Slygo Road, Trenton GA 30752, or contact Gail at 423-987-3713 or ghedden7@gmail.com for further information.
Wreaths Across America Dade County is a joint project of American Legion Post 106, American Legion Post 106 Auxiliary and Dade County Historical Society.
--Gail Moore Hedden
Coordinator – WAA Dade County
ghedden7@gmail.com]
